SPORT: Riverfest returns

Waterways Ireland Riverfest will take place on the scenic River Bann in Coleraine on Saturday and Sunday, July 3-4. BBC Radio Ulster presenter, Alan Simpson, will compere the action from the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team, Freestyle Jet-skiers and Wakeboarders.

Following on from their first ever Northern Ireland performance last year, Florida's Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team will make a return appearance to dazzle the spectators with their multi-award winning performance displays. The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team, a group of talented skiers, will create synchronized ballet lines, death defying jumps, blistering barefoot skiing and other acrobatic daredevil feats.

The Xtreme Action Freestyle Jet ski Team will also be in attendance headed by Pro World Jet Ski Champion Anthony Burgess, wowing the crowds with inverts of up to 20 feet.

Paul Hughes from Xtreme Action, management of Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team, told the Times: "We'll be doing some of our most popular routines this year but we will also be introducing one or two new tricks that we hope the crowd will enjoy."

On-land activities will include climbing walls, bouncy castles and slides, laser quest, gourmet food stalls and live entertainment. There will be a large range of boats on display from Hanna Boats, and for the less active there will be the chance to avail of leisure cruises along the Bann, courtesy of Robert Anderson and the Lady Sandel.

And, if fishing or angling grabs you, a Coarse Fishing Angling competition will be held during the weekend at Movanagher Canal near Kilrea with the chance to win up to 250 vouchers.

Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing & Communications with Waterways said, "We are delighted to work in partnership with Coleraine Borough Council and the event organisers to deliver the Waterways Ireland Riverfest and I know it will be a tremendous success."

Rob Skelly of event organisers Fluid Events commented, "For 2010, the line-up will be bigger and better cementing its reputation as one of the best water-sports events across the UK and Ireland." Mayor of Coleraine, Cllr Norman Hillis, added: "This is a fabulous event and Council is delighted to be in a position to support it. We welcome the continuous backing of Waterways Ireland, and the enthusiastic commitment of organisers Rob Skelly & David Kidd."